October 25, 2006
Wednesday

It's not prowling zombies, werewolves or Frankensteins that should spook parents this Halloween.

Rather, cars are the biggest threat to trick-or-treating children, said Nancy Nord, commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

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"There are many more injuries on Halloween involving children being hit by cars than from flammable costumes and other things you might think of," Nord said Tuesday. "The other main type of injury you see are from trips and falls."

Four children are struck and killed by cars on an average Halloween in the United States, according to a study by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That's four times the fatality rate on an average day.

Children should wear bright clothing, Nord said. Costumes and treat bags should be marked with reflective tape, available in most hardware and sporting-goods stores. Children should avoid baggy pants and billowy skirts to avoid tripping, she added.

The commission also announced the voluntary recall of three Halloween-related Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head products - "Make a Monster Pumpkin," "Make a Fireman Pumpkin" and "Make a Diva Pumpkin." The products have been sold at Target Stores nationwide in September and October. They contain small parts that pose a choking hazard to young children.

Here are more of the commission's trick-or-treating safety tips:

Adults should ...

- Accompany young children.

- Inspect candy and other loot before children dig in, and throw away any unwrapped treats.

- Watch out for children while driving through residential neighborhoods.

- Caution children from running across dark lawns and into streets.

Trick-or-treaters should ...

- Avoid homes without lit porch lights.

- Not enter homes unless accompanied by an adult.

- Carry flashlights.

- Make the rounds in groups.

Costumes and accessories should ...

- Be flame-resistant, well-fitted and bright.

- Be marked with reflective tape.

- Be made of soft, flexible material.

- Not impede vision.

Trick-or-treatees should ...

- Remove obstacles, including jack-o-lanterns and other decorations, from walkways, porches and doorsteps.

- Minimize the use of candles to illuminate decorations.

Halloween fun facts

- More than 40 million children ages 5 to 14 trick-or-treat annually in the United States.

- Americans spend billions of dollars annually on spooky cards, candy, costumes and decorations.

- Bite-sized chocolate candies are the most popular treats among trick-or-treaters.

- Fruit and salty snacks are least popular.

- 90 percent of parents admit to sneaking goodies from their children's treat bags.

- Boston and Orlando, Fla., are Americans' top ghostly travel destinations.

- Sorting candy is the most popular activity for children returning home from trick-or-treating, followed by eating, sharing, stashing and swapping.

Sources: National Confectioners Association, U.S. Census Bureau, National Retail Federation

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